Does anyone know what epic movie was released last weekend?

The SpongeBob Movie:  Sponge Out Of Water.  Earned $56 million.  Knocked American Sniper off the #1 spot.  Anybody see it?  Sponge Bob is just pure silliness.  Sponge Bob introduced us to underwater fire and a whole lot of stuff that doesn’t make sense.  We can laugh at it that.  Or not.  But we’re not going to lose sleep over it.

Contrast that to what we do loose sleep over.  There are a whole of things in the real world that we struggle to make sense out of.  Yes? 

Real world drama that as we’re trying to process it - we really have no clue about how all that’s going to work out and what all that is going to mean for our lives.  The reason all that seems overwhelming is because it is. 

There’s a line in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World - Ethel Merman says, “The reason things like that happen is because when things like that happen people say things like that happen.”

Which is about our trying to not have to deal with the hard stuff.  Sometimes we say, “I’m trusting God” because we really hope He’s got it covered.  But we still struggle with our thoughts and feelings trying to make sense out of things.  Sometimes it seems easier to try and just ignore stuff and move on hoping all works out.  “God’s got it.”  But all that drama is still there and we know it. 

How can we have courage to live as God’s people in a world of nutso - crazy - drama?

This morning we’re moving into the second half of the book of Daniel.  Chapters 1 to 6 focused on Daniel and his friends living courageously for God.  What is the past history part of the book.

Chapters 7 to 12 are going to focus us on prophecy - future history.  What can be hugely helpful for us to get a grip on God’s sovereignty over all the drama of life and what God’s sovereignty can mean for us at the heart level. 

Daniel 7 - verse 1.  As we’ve been doing we’re going to go through the passage - unpacking as we go along - and then come to application for our lives.

Verse 1 introduces us to the drama of what was going on in Daniel’s Time. 

Verse 1:  In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay on his bed.  Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 

We last saw Belshazzar in chapter five - the feast with the handwriting on the… wall.  The first year of Belshazzar takes place about 10 years before all that.  We’ve stepped backward in time to about 449 BC.

A quick catching us all up to speed.  Hopefully this looks familiar. 

Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by his son Evil-Merodach.  Then Evil-Merodach was assassinated by his brother-in-law - General Neriglissar.  General Neriglissar who died 4 years later.  Neriglissar’s son Labashi-Marduk succeeded him to the throne and was promptly assassinated nine months later.

All this intrigue leads to a revolt that put a guy by the name of Nabonidus on the throne.  Nabonidus who - in order to legitimize his right to rule - Nabonidus married King Nebuchadnezzar’s daughter - who at one time had been married to Neriglissar.  Nabonidus and Nebuchadnezzar’s daughter have a child named…  Belshazzar - who is the product of this warm and loving and nurturing family.

Belshazzar who reigns only in the city of Babylon - because Nibonidus lets him.  Belshazzar who was raised in opulence - is probably a pompous - proud - spoiled - rich brat - who’s really messed up.  Who, we find out 10 years later at the feast - gets his strokes - trying to deal with his inadequacies - by showing off for the paparazzi and buying the affirmation of those he rules.

We know how this ends because we’ve read the handwriting on the wall.  Nabonidus runs south to save his skin.  Belshazzar gets dead.  The Persians conquer the Empire.  The rumblings of which were there to be seen in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign.  But the government doesn’t seem to be doing anything about the Persians because the government - like its leaders - the government is really messed up.

Politics - the family business - is murder.  The guy running the government is a nut case.  The government is dysfunctional and coming apart while the empire is about to be conquered.  The stability of Nebuchadnezzar has been replaced by intrigue and chaos that makes even Washington look really functional.  Crazy - nutso - hard to process times. 

Point being:  Daniel had front row seat to all that drama.  Watching all the corruption and immorality.  Watching it all unravel.  Probably with unanswered questions.  What will all this mean for my people in exile - God’s people?  What will happen to my friends and I?

We’re together?

Verses 2 to 14 are Daniel’s Vision.  In the midst of all this uncertainty - dangerous messed up times - God gives Daniel a vision.

Verse 2:  Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.  And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.  The first was like a lion and had eagles wings.  Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.  And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear.  It was raised up on one side.  It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’  After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back.  And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

Verse 7:  After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong.  It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet.  It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.  I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them and another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots.  And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Let’s take a breath.

On the back side of your message notes - and up here on the screen - you’ll see a chart that ties together Daniel’s vision here in chapter 7 with the statue vision given to Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 2.  Meaning that these beasts represent the real time kingdoms in history that we identified in back in chapter 2.

Which is a lot to take in.  But hopefully the chart helps to visualize the comparison and what the kingdoms are that were looking at here.

Notice two things before we go on.

First:  These beasts are beastly.  They’re human kingdoms.  But they’re described as... beasts.

Man - male and female - is created in the image of God.  The whole process of God bringing animals before Adam to have Adam name the animals - remember this?  That whole process proves that not one of the animals corresponds to Adam.

Adam bears the image of... God - is unique in that respect.  Eve - also created in God’s image is Adam’s partner - corresponds to him - bone of my bones - flesh of my flesh.  Rulership - dominion - authority - over the earth - over the beasts of the earth - is given by God to man.  There is a uniqueness and a dignity - a regality - given by God to man.  The highest realization of our humanity is found as we seek after who God has created us to be.

When man assumes dominion - authority and rulership - apart from God he rejects the basis of his humanity and his God given authority to rule.  Man setting himself up as the authority - not God - humanism.  Looking at our mixed up world today - how man governs man - increasingly man is rejecting the absolute authority of God - even that God exists or may have something to say about what we do down here.  All that is tearing us apart.

Which is true of us individually.  We’re always struggling with the question of who has authority - who gets to rule our lives.  Us or God.  When we make life about us - which we do anytime we’re not following after God’s will - which we tend to do a lot - when we fall into the trap of thinking that somehow our way of understanding life and doing life is way better than the God Who gave us life and sustains our lives.  When we make ourselves accountable to us we get ourselves into some serious serious trouble. 

Going back to Daniel.  Reject God’s gift of being human - bearer of God’s image - set yourself up as a god - and you become what’s left - a beast.  Kingdoms being described as beasts means that they’ve rejected God.  They rule - not as God intends for human authority to rule - but they rule in opposition to God - under their own authority - even following after the dictates of Satan. 

Second:  These beasts are brutal.

Fluffy doesn't make the list.  These are predators.  With claws and teeth.  Ripping and tearing.  Each beast is more dangerous than the one before it.  The last one doesn’t even get a comparison animal.  Its just dreadful - terrifying - extremely strong - with large iron teeth.  It devours and crushes and tramples whatever’s been left over from the previous carnage.

Which describes human history.  Doesn’t it?  War has always been with us.  But the ability to wage war - to subjugate peoples - to destroy and maim - to express our inhumanity - every generation gets better at it.  The greatest technological advances come as a result of designing better ways for us to kill each other.  We’ve come a long way from throwing rocks at each other.

Going on - verse 9:   As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.  A stream of fire issued and came out from before Him; a thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 

Verse 11:  I looked then because the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking - back to beast number four - the little horn - I looked then because the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking.  And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.  As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.  I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a Son of Man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.  And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Let’s breathe again.  First:  Notice the contrast.

In contrast to all the ripping and shredding and destruction thrones are set up.  God - the Ancient of Days - the One who exists -timeless - before the dominion of man - the Lord of History calmly sits on His throne.  He alone is the absolute sovereignty.  He wears white.  His hair is pure.  He is pure - sinless.  His throne is ablaze with fire.

There’s power here - authority to judge - to eliminate whatever is unworthy or impure.  Innumerable attendants are at His service.  Myriads stand before Him.  The court is seated.  God is sovereign.  God - the Ancient of Days - is in control.

Second:  Notice the judgment.

The little horn never shuts up.  It just goes on and on yapping and yapping - boasting with arrogance and pride until the horn and beast number four finally get Bar-B-Qued.

The whole scene is very similar to what the Apostle John saw in Revelation - chapters four, five and twenty.  God on His throne - the 24 elders around Him - passing judgment on the affairs of man.  This is final absolute judgment - no reprieve.  Those who’ve rejected God will spend eternity apart from God in torment.

Third - in verse 13  - notice the term “Son of Man.” 

Son of Man is a term that Scripture uses to describe the humanity of the Messiah.  The Son of Man - being fully human - because he’s the son of… man - meaning a descendant of Adam.  And yet different.  Adam blew in the garden - sinned - and got us into the mess we’re in before God.  The coming Son of Man - Messiah - is going to get us out of it.

We’re kind of together?

On the night of His betrayal Jesus was taken before Ciaphas - the high priest - and the Jewish religious council.  Ciaphas asks Jesus, “Tell us if you’re the Christ, the Son of God!” 

Son of God is a term that Scripture uses to describe the divine nature of the Messiah.  Divine - meaning He is all of what it means to be God -  because He is the Son of… God.  Ciaphas is asking Jesus if Jesus thinks He’s not only the Messiah, but God Himself.

Jesus responds to Ciaphas using Daniel 7:13.  Jesus says, “From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming in on the clouds of heaven.”  (Matthew 26:63,64)

In other words:  Jesus ties His deity as the Son of God - Ciaphas’ question - with His humanity - the Son of Man - applies Daniel’s vision - this prophecy - to Himself - talking about Power and coming in judgment.

In Daniel’s vision Who is the Son of Man?  Jesus. 

Coming back to Daniel verse 14 - what’s being said here is that in contrast to the beasts who’s dominion is taken away - the dominion of Jesus is “...is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away… one that shall not be destroyed.”

We’re getting ahead of ourselves a bit but its important to grab some of what we’re seeing here. 

All the destruction and brutality of man left to his own self-authority.  The ugliness of human history lived in the misery and torment of sin.  Man brought before God in judgment - and apart from Jesus - man being judged and sent to eternity in Hell.

In contrast is Jesus - Son of Man - Son of God - our Messiah representative - who is given all dominion and glory.  Jesus, Who is the sovereign Lord over all of creation.  Jesus, Who by virtue of His atoning ministry on the cross as God incarnate He is the Judge.  Jesus, Who has an everlasting dominion which shall not be destroyed in which people from every nation and language - we - will serve Him.

Are we together on what Daniel is being given a glimpse of?

Verses 15 to 27 bring us to The Interpretation of Daniel’s vision.

Verse 15:  As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.  I approached one of those who stood there - probably an angel - and asked him the truth concerning all this.  So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things.  These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.  But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.

In Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of the statue - chapter two - remember that at the end of all the kingdoms - a stone representing Jesus comes and crashes into the last kingdom.  All that man aspires to and measures himself by - the kingdoms of the world - all the authority and dominion and power and wealth - all of it is blown away like chaff - like dust in the wind.  By Jesus.  

The saints of the Highest One - Jesus - will receive the kingdom - singular - they will possess the kingdom - singular - for all ages to come.  Everything that’s worth desiring - seeking after - possessing - is found in the one kingdom - God’s eternal kingdom.  Which is the ultimate triumph of God’s people.  What are the kingdoms of this world compared to the eternal joys and future hope of God’s people?  What God has for us in Jesus?

Verse 19:  Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.  As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.  Thus he - the angel - said:  “There shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. 

The fourth beast is corresponds to the bottom of the statue - which we identified in chapter two as the Roman Empire - or what parts of Rome survive today - in our law and architecture - language - religion - culture.  Somehow - from what’s being said here - that survives until this coming judgment.

Verse 24:  As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom - Rome - ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.  He shall speak words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the laws; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and a half a time - which is a cryptic - used in prophecy - way of saying 3½ years.

Verse 26:  But the court shall sit in judgment - same court as back up in verse 9 - Who’s court?  God’s court - and his dominion - the little horn’s dominion -  and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.  And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.”

There’s a lot here we don’t understand.  How’s that for an understatement?  However, there’s at least five relevant observations we can make with reasonable certainty.

First:  The little horn comes out of the Roman system - represented by beast number four.  Somehow he subdues the other ten horns or kings that also come out of the Roman system and takes his place at the leader of the whole thing.

Second:  He not only has eyes - but a big mouth.  He’s constantly - even to the end - speaking out against God.  Which shows us his true nature.  He’s anti-God - anti-Christ.

Third:  He’s going to come after God’s people and for a time will prevail against us.

What if you could blame all the problems of your country on a group of people and convince ordinary citizens to round these people up and put them into camps for extermination.  What would that be like?  Nothing new.  Right.  Easy if you’re only authority is yourself.  Not God.  Humanism.

Isn’t it interesting how quickly the comparison is made between conservative fundamental extremist Muslims - as enemies of civilization as we know it - and conservative fundamentalist Christians - as extremists.  Doesn’t take much wonder at where that might lead.  Just saying.

Fourth:  This little yappy horn is going to try and change human history and law.

The past is a fact.  History is an interpretation.   “He who controls the present controls the... the past.” 

Its the question of who we’re accountable to.  Humanism run amok.  Who needs AD and BC if we’ve got the Common Era - CE.  Write God out of history and we imagine that we’re only accountable to ourselves - or whatever system of government we can use to keep people following us.

Fifth:  Whatever pre-eminence he has - his time is limited - 3½ years.  Four times we’re told what happens to him - judgment - his dominion is taken away - and he burns for eternity.

Repetition is the key to… learning.  God - Scripture repeats things so… we learn.  Don’t miss the point.  Whatever is going on in this mixed up nutso - crazy - full of drama world - whatever is against God’s people - and ultimately when the horn arises - the anti-Christ who is against God’s people - get the point - his days are numbered and he’s going to get toasted forever.

On the other hand - we’re told twice - verses 18 and 27 - get the point - everything worth having in this world - which the kings and peoples of this world have devoured each other to obtain - it all gets handed over to -  verse 27 - “to them” - meaning God’s people reigning under the authority of the Son of man - Jesus our Lord and Messiah.  We reign eternally with God in His Kingdom.

Verse 28 gives us Daniel’s Response.

Here is the end of the matter.  As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart. 

It is not hard to imagine that Daniel - as he’s given this extended version director’s cut vision from heaven and the interpretation by this angel - it is not hard to imagine that Daniel is emotionally drained.  Wouldn’t we be?

Even though Daniel is walking by faith - trusting God - in fellowship with God - he’s God’s man in Babylon - he’s still only human.  Like us.  He’s having trouble processing what he’s been shown.  His color changed - meaning his pacemaker was having trouble keeping up.  He’s become faint.  Daniel in the dysfunctional nut house of Babylon - even with God cluing Daniel in - in his mortality - his weakness - even Daniel struggled.

When we look at what’s going on in today’s world - when these things happen - we can say, “I’m trusting God” and still struggle with our thoughts - our feelings - struggle at trying to process what we’re seeing and what all that might mean for us.  And there is some comfort in knowing that we’re not alone in that.

Processing all that there are three take homes for us that can encourage us.

First:  God’s Sovereignty.  Have you heard that before?  Here in Daniel that gets said over and over.  We need to hear it over and over.  Because - we get this intellectually - but knowing it in our hearts is harder.

There’s a poem that goes like this:

Humankind had  a lovely beginning,

But we ruined our prospects by sinning.

We know that the story

Will end with God’s glory,

But at present the other side’s winning. (1)

Daniel is living in a time when it seemed like the other side had all the good cards.  Sometimes it seems like that - doesn’t it?  A lot.

Whatever we may think of what we’re reading in the headlines or the daily disasters in our lives - we need to keep coming back to this:  God is still God.  He hasn’t lost His power or authority.  He’s calmly seated on His throne.  God is sovereign.  He’s got it all under control.     

Second:  God’s Judgment. 

One day that final court session will take place.  Books will be opened.  Justice will be dispensed.  Things that are not right today will be put right - forever.

Do we live our lives focused on the beastly things of this world - clawing and scratching for things that are as valuable as dust.  Keeping our little tally sheets of what others have done to us and what we’re justified in doing to them.  Do we hang onto our little sins - keep our little perks and prerogatives.  Collecting toys.  Thinking that life is all about us.

Or do we judge life as God judges life - balancing life on the scale of eternity?  That’s a whole different perspective on what’s going on today.  There are things to focus on in life that count forever.  Whatever everyone else is focused on - stressed out over - are we investing our time - energy - money - our hearts in what endures?

Third:  God’s Inheritance. 

Reading - studying - prophecy should focus us on God not on checking off events on a list that we’ve come up with or giving us talking points as we debate eschatology.  Prophecy should focus us on God and bring us courage as we move forward into future history as God’s people.

Hang on to this:  “Its not what we do but who we are that counts most.”

That’s why we appreciate Daniel’s response.  There are times - when thinking about the world we live in - all the carnage and ripping and tearing and clawing - when God allows us to glimpse the bigger picture - when we see God - the Ancient of Days - moving behind history - and its overwhelming.  Courage is often times lacking.  And we need to know that its is okay to struggle with all this.  That people are not born spiritual giants.

Courage - moving closer to God - trusting in His sovereignty, justice, and inheritance - is a process.  We need to learn to think forward - to focus on forever.

Ten years after this vision is the scene with Belshazzar and the - what?  the handwriting on the wall.  Daniel interpreting the message.  Belshazzar drapes Daniel with purple clothing - a necklace of gold - proclaims Daniel the number three ruler in the empire.  Stuff that people today are killing each other over.  And Daniel says, “Keep it.  Don’t need it.  Its all dust anyway.  I’m trusting God.”

That’s process.  Getting closer to God.  Processing God’s truth - repeating the truth over and over - marinating in it - prayerfully looking for how it applies in every situation - until it becomes a part of who we are.  Till His truth governs our lives - how we live and respond to this world.

Its who we are that counts most.  People learning to trust God - to step out in faith - to turn to Him rather than to run away in panic.  To understand in our hearts that He is the Ancient of Days and that we are His.  We rule and reign under the authority of Jesus - Son of Man - Son of God.

When we get the who we are part - then the what we do part will come.  We will be able to stand - during the times that require courage - we will be who God calls us to be.

Heading out there when we’re tempted to loose sleep over what we think may happen we need to ask:  “How am I responding to this?  Am I running around all panicked and trying to figure things out by my own cleverness - trying to save my own bacon - or am I living for God - trusting Him - because I’m His.”

______________________

1.  From a sermon by Steve Zeisler, “Four Beasts From The Sea”

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.